Barcelona and Real Madrid chasing Martin Odegaard
1:01

15-year-old Martin Odegaard is one of the hottest prospects in world football, with the Strmsgodset IF midfielder reportedly being courted by teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Fox Sports

01 Aug 2014

Sport/Football/News

BrRonaldinho’s representatives have met with New York Red Bulls.Source: AFP

BRAZIL legend Ronaldinho seems set to join Thierry Henry and Australian Tim Cahill at New York Red Bulls, according to a report in his homeland.

Clubs worldwide, including Australia, have been eager for news on his availability after the 34-year-old was released by Atletico Mineiro this week.

UOL website reports Friday that Ronaldinho’s representatives have met the Red Bulls officials and an announcement is imminent.

Ronaldinho has said his farewells from Brazil club football and awaiting the next chal;lenge.Source: Getty Images

Earlier his agent and brother, Roberto de Assis, revealed that the 34-year-old has no plans to retire, saying: “He will play until he’s 42.”

From one and of the age spectrum to the other, then, as we introduce Martin Odegaard, a 15-year-old Norwegian sensation. He currently plays – make that, stars – for Stromsgodset.

But he’s already trained with Manchester United and Bayern Munich and according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Real Madrid is ready to swoop on the protegee.

He’s under contract until 2015, but Marca reports that Madrid’s offer is $22m – unbelievable business for a Norwegian club, for a 15-year-old!

But it might not be such a fait accomplice for Real just yet.

“I can’t name the clubs, but almost regardless of who you name, they have been in contact with us,” Odegaard senior told Verdens Gang, with clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, PSG and Ajax mentioned.

Back to normal Rumour Mill fare, where Jose Mourinho has continued to influence the transfer stock exchange by contradicting all the talk from earlier this week by declaring Fernando Torres is not for sale.

Cesc Fabregas opens his Chelsea account with stunner
0:38

Cesc Fabregas has opened his account for Chelsea with a stunning free-kick against Vitesse Arnhem, helping the Blues to a 3-1 win.

Fox Sports

31 Jul 2014

Sport/Football/EPL

All that said, ESPN FC reports that Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is still on Chelsea’s radar and is eager for a move despite public declarations otherwise. After finally selling Lukaku to Everton, there is theoretically room for the 27-year-old in Chelsea’s squad – but the London club still needs to off-load some foreign talent to make the quota (17 players maximum) as well as to comply by financial fair play.

EVER GREEN AUSSIE

Schwarzer and Courtois.Source: Getty Images

Still at Stamford Bridge, and the key to Chelsea’s transfer conundrum could be Australia’s Mark Schwarzer.

It is hard to see either Thibaut Courtois or Petr Cech willing to spend a season on the pine at Stamford Bridge, but veteran Schwarzer is. And Mourinho has faith in the legendary Socceroo, who recently signed on for the season, should he need him to be his No.2 again this term.

“We have competition for places all over the pitch,” he told Sky Sports News. “This is a club that wants to be strong and have real possibilities to compete for trophies so we need competition in every place.

“I know Mark Schwarzer is a very good goalkeeper, very stable, a group man, completely ready to be our second goalkeeper like he was last season when we needed him to play, so if he is our second goalkeeper we feel very safe with him, but to have Petr and Thibaut together in the same squad is a good problem for me.”

Cech’s departure has been speculated to help Mourinho fit all his out-field foreigners into his squad.

HOW LIVERPOOL MIGHT HELP UNITED

The Daily Mirror reports that Germany World Cup star Mats Hummels might be on the move to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund after all – so long as the Bundesliga outfit can replace him.

Mats Hummels arrives at Munich Airport after Germany won the 2014 World Cup.Source: Getty Images

The paper reports that 21-year-old Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori has been identified by Jurgen Klopp as a potential loan replacement. Now, it seems, the puzzle is in Brendan Rodgers’s hands.

Still at Anfield, and managing director Ian Ayre is in Spain trying to secure moves for Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno and Atletico Madrid defender Javier Manquillo.

Moreno has received some advice from Liverpool discard Iago Aspas, who would prefer he remains in Spain with him at Sevilla.

Alberto Moreno (R) during the friendly football match between Olympique Lyonnais and Sevilla FC.Source: AFP

Aspas said: “Albert Moreno would never feel like he does in Sevilla at Liverpool.

“I’ve been here for three or four days. Now that I belong to Sevilla, I prefer he stays here.”

LONDON MOVES

Tottenham has beaten Newcastle and West Ham to Sporting Lisbon centre-back Eric Dier, while Porto midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero, who impressed for Colombia in Brazil, could be a prized recruit for Arsene Wenger according to Colombian journalist Diego Rueda. He Tweeted: “The possibility… is real”.

We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Sporting Lisbon for the transfer of Eric Dier, subject to a medical.

Guillermo Ochoa has cashed in on his brilliant World Cup in goals for Mexico, reportedly joining Malaga in La Liga.

The stopper’s contract with French club Ajaccio, relegated to Ligue 2 this season, had expired, opening the door for the 28-year-old to move on.

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa watches closely.Source: AFP

TEMPTED?

Let’s not get greedy, James.

Real Madrid’s newest Galactico, Rodriguez, has urged his compatriot Radamel Falcao to join him in the Spanish capital.

It’s unlikely, given Karim Benzema looks like he’s about to re-sign, but a loan deal could be an option.

“He has a winning mentality and that’s what Madrid want -- I really hope he goes there,” Rodriguez told AS.

“I’ve been playing alongside him for four years, we were only separated when he was at Atletico. I’m sure he is good enough to play for Madrid, but I’m not the one who decides whether he comes or not.

“He could play for Madrid because he’s a quality player with a winning attitude.”

NO DEAL

Atletico Madrid will re-enforce its squad, but not with the trio mooted in Thursday’s Rumour Mill.

“Many names have been mentioned, but none of those players, neither (Santi) Cazorla, (Jose) Callejon, (Fernando) Torres nor Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) are on our agenda,” club president Enrique Cerezo told Radio Marca. “If we sign another player, it won’t be any of them.”

One new name thrown up today is Shinji Kagawa, according to TalkSport.

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